Zach Mercer ready to leave Gloucester for Toulon after England snub

Zach Mercer is expected to leave Gloucester at the end of the season to return to France, having been overlooked by England since he returned to the Premiership last year.

The No.8 has been linked with Toulon, whose squad is packed full of former Premiership players including Lewis Ludlam, Kyle Sinckler, David Ribbans, Ben White and Dan Biggar.

Mercer returned to the Premiership last year after an impressive spell with Montpellier, which saw him named Top 14 player of the year after helping the club win their first league title in 2022. He then joined Gloucester on what was described as a long-term deal.

The 27-year-old No 8 was tipped to be part of England’s Rugby World Cup squad following his efforts in France, but went on to be one of the first cuts from England’s preliminary World Cup camps last summer.

Speculation linking Mercer with a move back to France has followed ever since, after making 21 appearances for Gloucester last season scoring four tries.

Mercer: I came back to fight for England jersey

Mercer has spoken openly since he joined Gloucester about his relationship with the England head coach Steve Borthwick and his omission from the England squad. He won the last of his two caps during the 2018 November Tests.

“I came back and was very vocal and honest about why I was doing it, to fight for the England jersey. Obviously that didn’t happen,” Mercer said before the summer tour of Japan and New Zealand.

“I never thought I was guaranteed that jersey. Would I have liked more time and opportunity to try and prove myself? Yes.”

Reports in France linked Mercer with Toulon as recently as last week, with the Toulon owner Bernard Lemaitre having praised Mercer’s skill-set back in April.

Lemaitre said: “Who doesn’t dream of this type of player who as well as being a tank brings others behind him into play, animates and accelerates the game? It’s rare. It is, therefore, normal that we are interested in him.”